Raleigh native Chesson Hadley gets big win in Boise Open

(Metro Golf Magazines File Photo)Chesson Hadley fired a 6-under 65 in the final round of the Albertsons Boise Open to move closer to fully exempt status on the PGA Tour.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Chesson Hadley rallied to win the Albertsons Boise Open on Sunday to put himself in position for fully exempt PGA Tour status halfway through the four-event Web.com Tour Finals.

Hadley shot a 6-under 65 at Hillcrest Country Club — birdieing Nos. 15-17 and closing with a par — for a one-stroke victory over Ted Potter Jr. (67) and Jonathan Randolph (69).

His PGA Tour card already secured with a ninth-place finish on the Web.com Tour's regular-season money list, Hadley earned $180,000 to overtake Brice Garnett for the No. 1 spot on the combined regular-season and Finals money list in a bid for fully exempt PGA Tour status. He also tops the Finals money list. If he takes either spot, he will also earn an exemption into The Players Championship.

"I proved to myself that I'm good enough to play on tour," said Hadley, 2014 Puerto Rico Open winner on the PGA Tour. "When you lose your card, you start thinking, and you get to some pretty dark places. It's so awesome to be going back there. I'm kind of fired up about getting that No. 1 spot."

Hadley finished at 16-under 268 for his second Web.com Tour victory of the season and fourth overall. He began the round five strokes behind leader Tyler Duncan.

"I know I came out of nowhere. No cameras showed up on me until I was on 16," Hadley said. "Obviously, every win is such a great feeling. The course was not playing easy, and I just kind of hung in there."

Hadley, Potter and the other top-25 finishers on the Web.com regular-season money list have earned PGA Tour cards. They are competing against each other for tour priority, with regular-season earnings counting in their totals.

The others — Nos. 26-75 on the Web.com regular-season money list, Nos. 126-200 in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup standings, and non-members with enough money to have placed in the top 200 in the FedEx Cup had they been eligible — are playing for an additional 25 cards.

Randolph wrapped up a card with his $88,000 check.

"Obviously, that was the goal at the start of the week," Randolph said. "I know that's where I belong, and I proved it to myself, being able to come out here and get it done this week."

Alex Cejka also clinched a card. He was fourth at 14 under after a 69.

Duncan had a 74 to tie for fifth at 12 under. He also locked up a tour card.

Six-time PGA Tour winner Hunter Mahan had a 74 to tie for 61st at 3 under. He has made $21,320 in the two events after finishing 182nd in the FedEx Cup standings.

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